Reading time: 6 minutes
"I understand English, I just can't think of ideas" is the most common Task 2 complaint and it costs real marks, because thin, undeveloped ideas cap Task Response at band 6. Brainstorming is not a talent; it is a 3-step, 4-minute procedure you can train. Here it is, with a worked example.
The 3-step method
- Step 1 (1 minute): list without filtering. Write down every argument that comes — words and fragments, not sentences. Quantity over quality; judging while generating kills both.
- Step 2 (1 minute): select the 2–3 strongest. Strong = relevant to the exact question, developable, and you have an example for it.
- Step 3 (2 minutes): attach one example to each. Personal, national, or general-knowledge examples all work — IELTS asks for "reasons and relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience".
Worked example (a real past prompt)
"Learning English at school is often seen as more important than learning local languages. If these are not taught, many are at risk of dying out. In your opinion, is it important for everyone to learn English? Should we try to ensure the survival of local languages and, if so, how?"
Note: this prompt hides three questions — importance of English, protecting local languages, and how. Brainstorm each:
Four minutes in, you have a complete essay skeleton: position, three developed points, three examples — one body paragraph each. The essay now writes itself inside the 40-minute plan.
Why this beats "thinking harder"
Separating generation from selection is the whole trick: candidates who brainstorm and filter simultaneously produce fewer ideas and weaker ones. The list step feels wasteful and is not — its rejects are what make the survivors demonstrably the strongest.
Training it
Brainstorm 5 past prompts a day for a week — lists and selections only, no essays (about 20 minutes daily). By the exam, 4 minutes will feel generous. Common themes to cover: education, technology, environment, health, work, government spending.
Practice what you just read: write a real exam task and get an instant band score with per-criterion feedback in the SmallTalk2Me AI Writing checker — your first check is free.
